City Attorney Shane Moloney leaves Mill Creek to take Renton job

Shane Moloney will join the City of Renton’s nineteen member legal staff as one of two senior assistant city attorneys. Photo courtesy of the City of Mill Creek.

By Richard Van Winkle, News of Mill Creek.

After months of rumors that he was leaving, Mill Creek City Attorney Shane Maloney admitted he will soon be starting his new job as one of the City of Renton’s two senior assistant city attorneys.

After the December 8, 2015, Mill Creek City Council meeting Moloney said the commute to Mill Creek from his Mercer Island home played a part in his decision, but that he was looking forward to the broader experience of working for a larger city.

No public notice of Moloney’s resignation has been published. On December 8th Mill Creek’s Director of Public Information Kelly Chelin said that she hoped a news release explaining the city’s plan for replacing Moloney and other departing personnel could soon be sent out.

Moloney will join the City of Renton’s nineteen member legal staff as one of two senior assistant city attorneys. He was the only employee in Mill Creek’s legal department.

Mill Creek City Manager Rebecca Polizzotto is losing three out of her nine direct reports this month. In addition to Moloney’s departure, both Police Chief Bob Crannell and Finance Director Landy Manuel retired. None of their replacements have yet to be officially determined.

Although City Manager Polizzotto is also a lawyer, she has relatively little experience with Washington State laws. She relied on Moloney’s experience and expertise in contracts, employment, land use, municipal law, and risk management.

As part of her extensive reorganization of city staff, City Manager Polizzotto hoped Moloney would spearhead Mill Creek’s records management program. Her plan is to implement an electronic records management system that will provide custody and control of all public documents, reducing the liability that Washington State’s 1972 Public Records Act puts on the city.